A Bit Of Advise

[Papajo]

Hi.....bear with me

I am in the throws of deciding whether or not to change from a 650 Bandit to a 650 V Strom. So I decided to sign up here to gather some advise and opinions.

I am 6' 2" and just under 20st. The weight is on a downward path 1.5 stone since Christmas. I have always had big bikes with big engines therfore power. Not scratching power but overtaking, cruising at continental speeds and all day comfort. The current Bandit was purchased just to have a bike in the garage but I find it a bit physically small for me.

My wife doesn't get on the bike as it would wreck her hair! Therefore the way I roll is solo all the time. I have travelled all over Europe by bike with a crowd of friends and would still like to be able to go to say France each year and tour about.

the punch line is: would a V Strom 650 be up to it?

thanks for reading

[frez]

It will handle your weight and height fine, I am above both of those and with full preload front and back it is acceptable although I am planning on putting in firmer springs in the front and maybe a different shock at the back as after 44k miles things are getting a little soggy on rough A and B roads.

A peg lowering kit will help with leg room and comfort, but is not essential. Depending what version you go for you may have to invest in screen mods to help with buffeting.

[ProfG]

the punch line is: would a V Strom 650 be up to it?

Hi and welcome  

To answer your question: yes it is made for that. Bandit is a great bike but not an all day touring one unless you go for the 11250AF (which is ONE SUPERB ALL ROUND BIKE), but for touring, sittoing upright and comfort, the V-Strom takes some beating.

[frez]

unless you go for the 11250AF

11,250cc I'd like to see one of them

[MartinW]

Hi Papajo and

I'm 6'7" and when I got the bike I was 20st (Not now though, I've been through a bit of shrinkage). I was recommended this bike by my Riding School when they saw me on the 125 for the CBT.

You won't have a problem.

[PHIL FAT]

hi papajo and  

[2112]

 go for it, you'll be fine.

[user650]

No probs swopping from Bandit mate even handles me and  my excess weight  (she's called charlotte one of my daughters)

[Papajo]

Thanks for all your replies.

I will now consult the holder of the purse strings :eusa-pray:

[Fatbelly]

I had the 1250 for a year. The Glee is much better for a big chap like you and me.

[petestrom]

The DL650 will suit you fine, you'll feel right at home on it.  It's fast enough, and it has a good range for touring.  Good luck.

[mx_ritchie13]

I think you should be fine shippers.

I recently decided to take myself and my brother out for a spin as he'd never been on a bike before. I'm 14 stone and he's 6'2" and must be the same weight or slightly more. The only problem I had was when it was getting dark I kept on getting flashed because my lights were dazzling the oncoming car drivers

     

[Chris Graves]

[Yoyo]

Welcome from another newbie! I've just gone from a Bandit 6 to a DL1000 but that was more because I'd ridden a mates and loved the extra oomph but I'm sure the 650 would have done, the other reason was my Mrs kept taking the pi$$ that her ER6 was a bigger bike than mine so I had to go one better!!

Well done on the weight loss too  

[Catballou]

[Mouse]

Welcome, I hope you ask many more questions as the people on here are really helpful.

[Rasher]

Only just rode a Wee for the first time.

Spent over 20 years on big sports tourers (GPZ900s / ZZR1100 / ZX9R's / ZZR1400) before switching to ADV bikes, spent a while watching a GS eat all my money then bought a Super Tenere 1200 after I got tired of funding BMW shareholders.

Anyway, picked up a Wee for the Mrs and had a 55 mile ride home, a nice cross country jaunt with a mix of roads and users thereof.

Was pleasantly surprised by the engines pull, not the arm wrenching off idle grunt of my twelve, but very clean linear power with plenty of mid range between 4k and 7k, never needed to drop more than two gears to get past Arthur and Dorris on their Sunday crawl, fourth gear had enough grunt from this speed and top was flexible enough to leave it there most of the time if you wanted to.

I am about 6'1 and apart from the crap OE screen found it fine, not as roomy in the legs as I expected, but must be at least as good as your current steed, check out this site for looking at room on a bike, you can compare several bikes, put in your own height and leg measurements and even throw a passenger on the back:-

http://cycle-ergo.com/

[Piglumps]

Hello and  

I was over 19st at my heaviest, now just over 17 and still gently losing.  You'll be fine Papajo and well done on the weight loss (and MartinW too)..

[loggamatt]

check out this site for looking at room on a bike, you can compare several bikes, put in your own height and leg measurements and even throw a passenger on the back:-

http://cycle-ergo.com/

Oh wow... that's amazing! I just test rode like 15 bikes from the comfort of my home